Floatable dock system



Sept. 17, 1963 e. G. SCHOLLEY FLOATABLE DOCK SYSTEM Filed Oct. 31, 1960 INVENTOR. 65026! 6. 56110445) A TT'OE/VEVS United States Patent 3,103,907 FLOATABLE DOCK SYSTEM George. G. Scholley, South Euclid, Ohio, assigncr to Gitfrick Dock & Development, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 31, 1960, Ser. No. 66,110 4 Qlaims. (Cl. 114-5) This invention relates to a new and improved floatable dock system especially designed for waterfront utilization, and the like.

A primary object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved floatable dock system which comprises a modular type of assembly including a plurality of substantially identical float units or sections attached one to the other in such manner as to form a dismantlable floatable dock system.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved floatable dock system which comprises a modular type of construction including a plurality of float units or sections of substantially square configuration which are attached one to the other in such manner as to form a dismantlable floatable dock system of predetermined assembly.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved floatable modular type of dock system as is above defined, and which is substantially simple in its construction and capable of being readily assembled and/or dismantled for erection or storage, respectively.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved floatable dock system which comprises a modular type of system including a plurality of float units or sections of substantially square configuration which are attached one to the other in such manner as to prevent entrapment of underwater objects between said units.

Another object and advantage of the floatable dock system of the present invention will be realized by one skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reference to the following disclosure of a preferred embodiment thereof, and which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one assembly of a floatable dock system embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the novel float or tank unit utilized in the dock system of the present invention with its deck removed to show its underlying construction;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing four of the float units connected one to the other so as to form a substantially T-shaped assembly of dock system; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on the plane as is indicated by the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, the floatable dock system as is shown in its entirety in FIG. 1, is merely one dock assembly embodying the inventive concepts of the same, and is seen to include a plurality of modular float or tank units, each being identified in its entirety by the reference numeral 10, and which are connected one to the other, in such a manner as to form parallel spaced dock sections A and B inter-connected intermediate the ends thereof with a dock section C the latter extending transversely thereacross to thus define an H configuration of dock assembly.

The dock sections A and B may be attached to pillars p anchored at predetermined spaced intervals extending outwardly of the shoreline S, being thus effective to retain said dock sections in parallel spaced relation to each other and substantially perpendicular to said shoreline. Although not herein shown, each dock unit if desired may be individually anchored by any suitable means at the bottom of the body of water.

The dock section A is shown to have a float section F attached to the end thereof constructed in its present embodiment of six float units 10', said float section accom modating a diving board D and a ladder L, being thus especially designed for use as a diving platform, said attached dock A and float section F being somewhat T- shaped in assembled configuration.

The dock section B, in like manner, is seen to have an additional float unit 10 attached to the side of its end unit, said assembled dock unit being thus substantially L-shaped in configuration and capable for use for embarking and/ or disembarking from small craft and the like.

The area between the dock sections A and B and the seaward side of the dock section C, said area being identifled by the reference character M, may, if desired, be used as a protected small boat marina as is shown in FIG. 1.

The enclosed area between said dock sections A and B, the shoreline S and the dock section C, said area being identified at 0 may also be used as a protective swimming area.

As will now be realized the complete dock assembly, as thus far described, is thus capable of utilization for many different recreational purposes.

With reference now directed particularly to FIG. 2, the modular float or tank unit ltl utilized in the instant dock assembly is seen to be substantially square in overall configuration and preferably constructed of a suitable light and rust resistant material such as aluminum. Said unit includes a base 2%) of parallelogram configuration, each of its longer sides being secured to the bottom edge of an end wall 21 by welding or the like in a fluid leakproof relation, its remaining shorter sides being likewise secured to the bottom edge of a side wall 22.

The end walls and side walls 21 and 22, respectively, are also preferably rectangular in configuration and are seen to extend vertically upwardly from the base 20. The side walls 22 are of greater height so as to project upwardly above the top longitudinal edge of the adjoining end walls; said side Walls being likewise of greater length with respect to said end walls so as to project beyond the opposed vertical edges of the latter, said vertical end projections being identified herein by the reference character 22a.

The length of each side wall including its end projections 22a thereof is preferably the same length as the end walls 21.

Each of said end walls is likewise securely attached by welding or the like to the adjoining side walls in a fluid leak-proof relation, said assembly being thus some-what box-like in configuration to thereby form a watertight float or tank unit which i intended to be buoyant when placed into the water.

Suitable brace members 23 disposed Within the tank unit at opposite ends thereof and at the center of the base 24) are securely fastened preferably by welding or the like to said base and adjoining side walls thereby affording additional rigidity to the assembled unit.

Additional brace members 24 are also seen to be disposed at predetermined intervals along the open top of the tank unit 10 preferably at the center and at opposite ends thereof, extending across said tank unit and rigidly fastened to the side walls 22 to thus provide additional rigidity to said assembly.

Each of the end walls 21 is seen to be formed with a recess 26 on the opposed upper edges thereof, and which accommodate a trou-ghlike member 27 extending longitudinally along each of the side walls 22, said members thus intending to provide a suitable drainage gutter.

As seen particularly in FIG. 2, the ends of said gutters 27 preferably extend beyond the end walls 21 to thus permit water to drain from the tank unit exteriorly of the watertight compartment formed therein.

As previously mentioned, the tank units are intended to be connected together to thus form any preselected configuration of dock assembly, such as the assembly herein shown in FIG. 1.

For this purpose, as best seen in FIG. 2, each of the aforementioned side wall projections 22a is integrally formed on the end thereof with a vertically extending rail 28. Each of said rails likewise preferably extends outwardly from its associated projection at substantially a right angle and toward the rail on the adjacent end of the opposite side wall.

Spaced holes formed in each of the rails 23 and side wall projections 22a are intended to accommodate suitable fasteners as are identified at 32 so as to securely fasten the float units 10 together to thus form a dock assembly of preselected configuration. As will be recognized by the artisan, by locating the holes 30 in the end projections 22a of the side walls 22 and also on the rail member 28 formed on the vertical ends of said projections, the tank units 19 may be securely fastened together without the connecting means piercing the watertight compartment of each of said units.

For example, to form a T-shaped dock assembly as is shown in FIG. 3, which comprises merely for purposes of the instant disclosure four tank units it), the central tank unit at position (1) of said assembly is located so that the rails 28 of each side wall 22 abut against one of the side walls 22 of tank units disposed on opposite sides thereof or at positions (2) and (3) respectively.

The aforesaid fasteners 32 are then inserted into the matching holes 30 in said abutting surfaces to thus secure said units together.

The tank unit disposed at position (4) of said assembly is likewise seen to have one of its side Walls 22 abutting against one side wall of the tank unit at position 1) to thus define the stem part of said T-shaped assembly.

The tank units at positions (2) and (3) in said assembly are seen to have a ladder L and hand rails R attached thereto using the aforementioned spaced holes 30 and fasteners 32 in said rails and side wall projections to thus enable said dock assembly to be adaptable for use as a swimming platform.

Each of the tank units 10 is also seen to have a substantially fiat deck, as identified at d, placed over the open top thereof, said deck being preferably constructed of a suitable water repellant material such as fiberglass. As best seen in FIG. 4, the deck d is placed over the open top of the tank unit so as to rest upon the upper brace members 24 and the upper edges of the gutters 27 so as to completely overlie said open end. The deck d is likewise preferably of such thickness so as to locate its upper surface approximately flush with the upper edge of the side walls 22 of the tank unit, the rails 28 on said side walls extending around the corners of said deck to thereby retain the latter in its assembled position on said tank unit.

From the foregoing disclosed embodiment of floatable dock system it will now be realized that many different dock assemblies may be readily obtainable, for example the several dock assemblies as are shown in FIG. 1.

It will now be further realized that the floatable dock system, as is herein described, provides a new and improved modular type of construction which is readily assembled and/or dismantlable for erection or storage, respectively.

It will also be realized that with the tank units it) being of box-like configuration and connectable to each other in the manner just described, entrapment of underwater objects therebetween is decidedly lessened.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the fioatable dock system of the present invention, it is to be realized that the same is susceptible to various modifications, arrangements and combinations of parts without departing from the inventive concepts thereof as are defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A fioatable dock system, comprising a plurality of float units each adapted to be buoyant when placed into the water, each of said float units comprising a base of parallelogram configuration, a Wall disposed on each side of said base and extending generally vertically upwardly therefrom, said walls and base being connected to each other to form a watertight hull of generally box-like configuration, means for attaching adjacent float units of said system together comprising connecting means defining a longitudinal extension of at least oppositely disposed side walls of the watertight hull of each unit and extending outwardly beyond said hull, and each of said longtiudinal extensions having rail means on the ends thereof for attachment to one of the adjacent float units of said system.

2. In a floatable dock system as is defined in claim 1 and wherein the rail means extend outwardly from the ends of said extensions at approximately degrees from the latter.

3. In a floatable dock system as is defined in claim 2 and wherein the rail means on adjacent ends of said oppositely disposed side Walls are located at approximately the same distance outwardly from the adjacent side wall of said hull extending therebetwcen.

4. A floatable dock system, comprising a plurality of float units each adapted to be buoyant when placed into the water, each of said float units comprising a base of parallelogram configuration, a wall disposed on each side of said base and extending generally vertically upwardly therefrom, said walls and base being connected to each other to form an open top watertight hull of generally box-like configuration, means for attaching adjacent float units of said system together comprising connecting means defining a longitudinal extension of at least oppositely disposed side walls of the watertight hull of each unit and extending outwardly beyond said hull, each of said longitudinal extensions having rail means on the ends thereof for attachment to one of the adjacent float units of said system, a deck disposed over said open end, and a drain gutter extending along the inside face of said oppositely disposed side walls and located below said open end to permit drainage of water from said deck exteriorly of said hull.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,857,872 Usab Oct. 28, 1958 2,924,191 Blomquist et al. Feb. 6, 1960 2,944,270 Pearse July 20, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 247,189 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1926 iii 

1. A FLOATABLE DOCK SYSTEM, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF FLOAT UNITS EACH ADAPTED TO BE BUOYANT WHEN PLACED INTO THE WATER, EACH OF SAID FLOAT UNITS COMPRISING A BASE OF PARALLELOGRAM CONFIGURATION, A WALL DISPOSED ON EACH SIDE OF SAID BASE AND EXTENDING GENERALLY VERTICALLY UPWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID WALLS AND BASE BEING CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER TO FORM A WATERTIGHT HULL OF GENERALLY BOX-LIKE CONFIGURATION, MEANS FOR ATTACHING ADJACENT FLOAT UNITS OF SAID SYSTEM TOGETHER COMPRISING CONNECTING MEANS DEFINING A LONGITUDINAL EXTENSION OF AT LEAST OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SIDE WALLS OF THE WATERTIGHT HULL OF EACH UNIT AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID HULL, AND EACH OF SAID LONGITUDINAL EXTENSIONS HAVING RAIL MEANS ON THE ENDS THEREOF FOR 